Wichita eagle., 1887-12-11
A MOST MARVELLOUS CITY.
The Peerless Pripcess Still in the
ASeendeney.
A New York Paper on It's Advantages
and AttractiOnS-2.6 500 Buildings
Erected in One Year.
eroy-s New York. Advance Thoush,.

Poneroy's New York. Advance Thought
The most marvellous city in the United
States today IS Wichita. kas No other
point can equal its strange history or sur
pass its wonderful growth. This statement
Is not made under any impulse of senti-
ment. but with a full realization of facts
and matters as they are.
Our eastern papers have recently been
RECALLING US with information to the effect
that the great boom in Wichita. which
has gained such a widespread circulation
had fallen through. bursted like bubble
and left a rather demoraliZed condition OF
affairs II WAS with the idea of investigat-
ing these reports, in conjunction with the
performance of other duties. that made
this visit To Wichita, starting from Kansas
City over the Chicago, Kansas " Nebraska
read. portion of the great Rock Island
system, and passing through Pea
BODY Harrington and the live
was somewhat surprised 10 find the
depot accommodations, not only OF the
Rock Island. but the Missouri Pacific and
other roads as well. SO inadequate and
rude. This feature is the first to impress
the stranger and traveller upon his en-
trance into any place, and ottentImes car
ries great weight with X. understand.
however, that the Rock Island will soon
begin the erection of a very fine and spacl-
Gus depot-of stone and pressed brick
What is most desirable and to the tray
eler always Will be, Is that the various
roads unite in the construction of Il large
Union Depot 1t seems. TO the hasty
observer, that these places distinguished
for their rapid growth grow so fast that
such essentials rs depOtS and hotels are
looked over in the enthusiasm OF pushing
ahead until some future moment permits
attention being bestowed upon them.
At present Wichita is also deficient IN
hotels. the second feature that impresSess
a stranger, but within a few weeks, and by
the time this article appears her facilities
in this direction VIII Outstrip those of any
other city IL the state, as within that per
iod the Cary hotel, a large 1--WE story and
basement structure of attractive archltec-
ture, will be thrown open 10 welcome the
city's guests.
The first morning after my arrival | had
the good fortune 10 meet an old friend
from the east. who entered into business
here in June and proposes to make this
his permanent home. Approaching the
motive of my visit To Wichita he very
kindly rendered me his assistance and in
PRODUCED me 10 several OF the most
INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS MEN,
with the object of obtaining some reliable
impressions concerning the Peerless
city i so appropriately denOminated.
One OF the first gentlemen of my friend
introduced me to is Mr. Geo. II. Black
welder prominent real estate
broker. On learning the object
Of my call he said: well. what
do you think of it; do YOU think our boom
is busted or does it look as if we were
about TO experience n panic / admitted
that did not think SO, for, in fact. one of
the features which most struck me Is the
great activity which existed everywhere.
For instance, the two main thoyoughtares
are in continued hustle and hubbub from
the amount OF traffic. and the sidewalks
are so crowded, especially in the afternoon,
that progression Il not by any means easy.
in no other city. Of course, comparatively
speaking, have ! noticed this one thing SO
much as in Wichita. Continuing MIR
Blackwelder stated that In the last six
months there was great str!ngeucy IN
financial matters, not alone here. bat all
over the country, and during that time
was Wichitas most dangerous diSad-
vantage. but having ridden through the
storm safely, every thing prophesied a
future as bright rs had ever been
looked forward to, no matter what might
be reported by the outside press TO the
country. In my next query | asked:
What would YOU present as the strong
est argument showing the faith OF the
people here in the city, why, sir, this
one fact alone, that between June, 1886 and
June, 1881,
2,G0O BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN ERECTED n
WICHITA
at a cost Of over g. 900 600; and during that
time we have also expended more than
Sl0.OUe 900 in permanent improvements.
Nv hat class OF buildings are going up
Those of a business character are solid
and substantial, metropolitan III size at
tractive in architecture ana from four 20
six or seven stories in height Wichita in
her building operations exhibit, better
showing than even a city of 10000 popu-
latiou. and you must bear in mind that
we have a little less than 5000 Here is q
statement recently prepared BY the EAGLE
which illustrates the facts in figures. The
showing is from June. 1851. To June. !
1851"